More Nuclear Energy Problems – January 11, 2013

In the shinkansen, a news banner at the front of the train car said that a crack was found in the nuclear reactor of one the 54 nuclear energy facilities in Japan. Fortunately, this reactor had already been shut down as of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, but was one of the facilities that officials were considering to reopen. Had it been reopened, the results could have been really bad.

Usually a mishap in some sort of non-nuclear power plant results efficiency loss or complete loss of power generation, not devastation of the surrounding area for generations to come. The Fukushima disaster will negatively affect many people for generations, whether it is medically, economically, or mentally.

Radiation has played a negative role in modern Japanese history for far too long. We need to do all that is within our control to reduce unnatural radiation risk and exposure; getting rid of the nuclear facilities will accomplish this.

A sign seen in the Fukushima train station. The sign reads that your visit to Fukushima is helping the prefecture regain its status. The cute bunny is thanking us.

ABOUT:

Elizabeth Armstrong (East Asian Studies) and Mizuki Takahashi (Biology) led 9 Bucknell students on a an 8-day study trip to Japan during winter break (January 3 to 12). The theme of the trip was "Sustainability: Japan's nuclear power, environment, culture and language". They traveled to Fukushima, Tokyo and Kyoto, examined the long-term sustainability of each of these areas, from all four perspectives, received lectures from experts in various fields related to sustainability, and learned a great deal about how to manage themselves in a very different culture. The trip was made possible by a generous grant from the Japan Foundation under the Japan-America Collegiate Exchange Travel Program.